Txiki Begiristain is poised to depart as Manchester City sporting director at the end of the season, in a move that may influence Pep Guardiola’s own decision regarding whether to remain as the club’s manager. Begiristain joined City in October 2012, having been Barcelona’s director of football for seven years until 2010. At the Catalan club he worked for two seasons alongside Guardiola, who became head coach in 2008 because of his recommendation. Begiristain, a former teammate who is a close friend of Guardiola, was hired by City in anticipation of the 53-year-old becoming the manager, which he did in summer 2016. As the person who insisted Guardiola should take over at Barça, his being in place at City was key to Guardiola accepting the role. Begiristain, whose acumen in the transfer market has been instrumental in City’s 12 years of success since he joined, is Guardiola’s key lieutenant, the two taking breakfast together on a daily basis at the club to discuss strategy. Guardiola’s contract expires next summer and he is yet to decide whether to extend what will by then be nine years at City. While the expectation is he will make the choice sometime in winter, Begiristain leaving may impact Guardiola’s thinking. Speaking on Friday about his future, Guardiola said: “What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, let’s see [what will happen] – look at how everything is going and how connected we are. When it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”